Lenzelle Smith Jr. added 15 points, Aaron Craft had 13 points and four assists for the Buckeyes (2-0) who struggled with the Rams (0-3) well into the second half.

Xavier Munford had 16 points to lead Rhode Island, which trailed by just four at halftime.

The Rams were down just six when Craft hit a 3-point shot that bounced around the rim and in with 6:45 left and then stole the ball on the other end of the court.

That led to a technical foul on Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley.

Thomas hit both free throws and the five-point swing gave Ohio State a 55-44 edge, its first double-digit lead of the game, and the Buckeyes held on from there.

No. 17 MEMPHIS 65, SAMFORD 54

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Adonis Thomas scored 16 points and Antonio Barton added 14 and Memphis escaped with a victory over Samford in an opening game of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament.

Joe Jackson added 13 points, four assists and three steals for Memphis (2-0), which converted all eight of its free throw attempts in the final minute to preserve the victory.

Tim Williams led the Bulldogs (1-3) with 21 points and six rebounds, connecting on 7 of 11 shots. Raijon Kelly added 12 points on 4 of 6 shooting and five assists.

Samford was within 54-51 with 4:21 left, but Memphis’ free throw shooting in the final minute made the difference.

No. 20 NOTRE DAME 78, BYU 68

NEW YORK — Jack Cooley had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead Notre Dame to a victory over BYU in the third-place game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.

Jerian Grant had 19 points — 17 in the second half — and Eric Atkins added 16, including the 3-pointer that gave the Fighting Irish a cushion after the Cougars had pulled within 63-61 with 4:28 to play.

Atkins hit the 3 28 seconds later and that was the fifth of six attempts from beyond the arc in the second half after the Irish had gone 1 of 7 from there in the first half.

No. 23 SAN DIEGO STATE 60, MISSOURI STATE 44

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Jamaal Franklin scored 15 of his 22 points in the first half to put San Diego State up early, and James Rahon hit a key 3-pointer late in a win over Missouri State.

The Aztecs led 39-30 midway through the second half before the Bears rallied. Missouri State (1-1) pulled within 41-37 on Anthony Downing’s basket with 7:13 left.

But the Aztecs pulled away thanks to 3-pointers on consecutive possessions from Rahon and Chase Tapley.

It was the second consecutive victory for San Diego State since the Aztecs lost the season opener against Syracuse.